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Niagara Fall’s Maid of the Mist will reopen this year, two weeks earlier than last year. April 10th, thanks to the favorable weather conditions.

The Maid of the Mist is the most well known family attraction in Niagara Falls and most Ontarians agree that it is an important part for our tourism industry.

This is a great way for anyone visiting Niagara Falls to get up close to this popular attraction. Even if you spend the rest of your stay in North America relaxing in your hotel, indulging in delicious meals and playing games of Poker dk, the Maid of the Mist is certainly one excursion which it is worth making the effort to experience. This unique boat tour has been a popular choice with tourists to the area for many years, and looks set to continue for many more. Even if you live locally and have visited Niagara Falls many times before, this is a trip which you are sure to enjoy.

Tours begin 10:00am, departing every 15 minutes, and the tours last about 30 minutes.

The Canadian dollar is set to reach parity with the U.S in the near future. Shoppers should be planning to cross the boarder to the US for shopping sprees. This could be good news for Americans and not so good news for businesses North of the border in Canada. But if you’re still looking for the cheapest coffee Tim Hortons still strings a cheaper cost on the Canadian side.

A familiar sign of spring and what follows is the Niagara Outdoor Show. If you hunt, fish or boat this event is a must see. From rods, reels and lures at clearance prices to the Casting Kids Contest(Sunday)presented by the Niagara Bassmasters, there`s something for everyone. Enjoy one of the fishing seminars with local pros or maybe write your Boating Test(card required by Sept.15/2009). You can bring your antique lures along and have them appraised at no charge by an expert. Officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources will be present to address your questions concerning our outdoor environment and how it relates to wildlife. Admission is $5 and if you`re under 16, it`s free. See you there!!!

“Water is so fine that it is impossible to grasp a handful of it; strike it, yet it does not suffer hurt; stab it, and it is not wounded; sever it, yet it is not divided. It has no shape of its own but moulds itself to the receptacle that contains it. When heated to the state of steam it is invisible but has enough power to split the earth itself. When frozen it crystallises into a mighty rock. First it is turbulent like Niagara Falls, and then calm like a still pond, fearful like a torrent, and refreshing like a spring on a hot summer’s day.” – Bruce Lee

This award-winning course teaches the skills necessary to care for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. It emphasizes safety, dealing with emergencies, and first aid basics. Course materials include a student activity book, a certificate suitable for framing, and a wallet-size certificate.

What Every Babysitter Should Know is the creation of a team of child care professionals and trained babysitters—St. John Ambulance instructors, veteran 16-year-old babysitters, 12-year-old rookie babysitters, and moms and dads.
The course takes 6 ½ hours and the informal sessions are designed to be entertaining and educational. Hands-on practice will help build confidence. Our great handbook makes learning fun.

One of the Parliament’s ideas to change Canada’s national anthem to something a little more modern. Of course most of us shoot that idea down, it’s our song and you can’t just change it. Then again the idea is still being taken into consideration by a few.

The idea that may have rose after seeing the cultural closing ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics. But with a collection of Canadian literature, art, and music, creating a collage of the colorful background that is Canada.

The online retailer this week declared Saskatoon as Canada’s most romantic community. Even more odd is the fact Niagara Falls didn’t even make the top 20. Amazon.ca based the list on an analysis of sales data since Jan. 1, 2010 of romance novels, sex and relationship books, romantic comedy DVDs -and Michael Buble CDs.

To be fair, the list is based on a per capita basis in cities with more than 100,000 residents, meaning Niagara Falls wasn’t even eligible. more…

It’s hard to imagine Toronto’s new-ish “dine in the dark” trend taking off in Niagara Falls, but it was also hard to believe how much buzz there is about it already here in Niagara.

O. Noir opened last summer in the Centre of the Universe, following others in Montreal and New York and a growing trend of European restaurants that serve their guests in a pitch black room, according to the restaurant’s website. more…

The Big Brothers Big Sisters company participated in their annual bowling event, that helps raise costs for Kids Sake.

Last year the group raised $65,000 for the Niagara Falls agency, this year their target was $70,000.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is like what some of you already know, an organization to help bring young generations of boys and girls to be partnered up with a volunteer brother or sister, to show those who are less fortunate of having siblings, an experience of companionship.

Step right up. Buy your tickets to the Brawls by the Falls. Grown men kicking, scratching and biting each other in a no-holds- barred fight that comes as close to gladiatorial combat as modern society allows.

The Toronto Sun reported this week there’s a battle brewing at Queen’s Park over whether Ontario should legalize mixed martial arts, a move that would clear the way for the Ultimate Fighting Championship league to hold events in this province. If Ontario were to allow UFC matches, Niagara Falls would be a natural host.

For the uninitiated, mixed martial arts is a type of fighting that pits two men against each other inside a cage in an anything- goes scrap that’s only a tiny step up from a prison yard brawl.

But UFC, which is allowed in Quebec and New York State, is wildly popular.

So popular, on a Saturday night, some Niagara Falls bars turn all their TVs away from Hockey Night in Canada to show pay-per-view UFC fights instead.

The issue has entered the political arena, pitting Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty against Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, who hails from Niagara region. more…

I’m very excited about the possibility of a CANADA vs. USA men’s hockey gold medal final in the 2010 Olympics. For this to happen USA will have to defeat Finland and Canada will have to defeat Slovakia. I’m very surprised how many of the teams have performed, so rather than predicting who wins and what the score will be, I will predict this:

USA vs. Finland – Prediction: Fights

Canada vs. Slovakia – Prediction: Dives

Why? Because this is exactly what happened the last time these teams faced each other.

USA vs. Finland 2009 – Fight

Anssi Salmela, of Finland bleeds after a fight with David Backes of the United States during the IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship qualification round on May 11, 2008.

Canada vs. Slovakia Dec. 29th 2009 – Dive

Matus Rais, of Slovakia, pulls off one of the best dives against Canada during the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships just a few weeks ago on December 29th, 2009.

Are you vacationing to Niagara Falls any time soon and planning on taking a tour of the area? Be prepared for sticker shock when you see how much some of the tours cost!

Of course there are many reasons you would go with a large tour company when visiting the area. Perhaps you would like to go on a boat tour, or a helicopter ride. Obviously for a tour of that caliber it would be necessary to hire a professional company to show you around Niagara.

But what about if you just wanted to go site seeing? Some of the local tours in Niagara charge anywhere from $75-$150 per person for a 3-4 hour tour. So for an average family of 2 adults and 2 children you can expect to pay between $300-$600! Not only are you paying a lot of money for someone to show you around the area, but you will most likely be with a large group of people as well. Having a large group while site seeing is not always a plus. It can take longer to explore areas with a large group, and you don’t have a say if you want to skip a specific part of the tour.

If you are looking to have the tour of your life and see things you want to see, then going with a tour company might not be your best option. A better option you may want to consider would be to hire a local that lives in Niagara or even a retired tour guide from the area. more…

On Feb 19th, Niagara Falls and St. Catherines are at a showdown to stir up the hottest chili to see who really has the beef. The event is this Friday from 11am-2pm, the winners at this event will move to St. Catherines for its downtown chili cook-off at Market Square. “Niagara Falls is a worthy opponent.” Mayor Ted Salci and Mayor Brian McMullan will also be one of the judges, judging while blindfolded. Last year, more than $3600 was raised for Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.

Tickets are $10, including sampling and water, and ballot vote for people’s choice award.